BJP, VHP and RSS voice support for Ramdev

Even though yoga guru Baba Ramdev has been saying that his fast against corruption is not a political movement, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have come forward in support of his fast against corruption.

The RSS has issued notices to its state units to support Baba Ramdev's indefinite fast.

VHP President Ashok Singhal is present at the venue. Former VHP leader Sadhvi Ritambara also shared the stage with him.

The BJP top brass in Lucknow where a national executive meeting is underway has pledged full support to Ramdev's movement saying that the party supports any person who launches a campaign against corruption.

The yoga guru began the protest along with thousands of his followers at the Ramlila maidan as he was joined by Swami Sadhavi Ritambhara and other religious leaders from the Sikh, Jain and Muslim communities.

Before commencing his fast, Ramdev held a yoga and bhajan session during which he told the gathering that the protest was intended to save the country from corruption and ensure that the poor get a good life.

Earlier, he alleged that there was a conspiracy against him to ensure that he does not go ahead with his protest fast but asserted that it had "failed".

"I will certainly not talk about all issues today; there was a conspiracy but it has failed. What was the conspiracy, I will not say today. When the right time comes, I will say," Ramdev said.

He said his satyagraha along with thousands of people around the country was to ensure that corruption is rooted out from the nation.

"What will India get from this protest? India will be saved now... People will get an opportunity for the first time that in all government professional colleges one can carry on the studies in his mother tongue," he added.

A large number of security personnel, including women from Rapid Action Force, were deployed at the protest site to ensure no untoward incident takes place. A manual frisking is also being carried out at the entrance.

On Friday, four hours of negotiation at a five-star hotel in Delhi did not give the government the way out it was seeking.